Well, I have a crap load of game pics I can link to if anyone is interested. Here's a shot of me from a game last weekend in Olds, Alberta. 104 players doing a huge Capture the Flag scenario (7 "flag" bases) on a 35 acre paintball field that ran from 6pm to midnight. Sun went down around 10:30pm, so we were pretty much shooting at shadows unless players had comms. and used them.

I like to try to learn something from every game, even just a plastic slinging fest like this one. I learned there are still people, young and old, who do not have integrity (don't call hits) and need to be "encouraged" to become honest. I learned I prefer my 5.11 FLASH undershirt over my Underarmor equivilent as it kept me much cooler. I learned drop leg dump pouches suck donkey butt with my play style. And finally, I learned that given enough time and patience, my teammates are finally coming to the realization that teamwork matters when playing this game.

I totally agree with learning something new every time you play. Lots of people like to bash Arisoft because kids play it. But let’s look at the military they “Play” army all the time Airsoft is just a cheap MILES system. During Drill weekends we might get 10 hours of room clearing. When My team and I train every Wednesday night we get 4-5 hours that’s almost 20 hours a week of training and its cheaper than shooting blanks. We also have a load of fun and I’m surrounded by people that want to be there not necessarily have to be there.

I totally agree with learning something new every time you play. Lots of people like to bash Arisoft because kids play it. But let’s look at the military they “Play” army all the time Airsoft is just a cheap MILES system. During Drill weekends we might get 10 hours of room clearing. When My team and I train every Wednesday night we get 4-5 hours that’s almost 20 hours a week of training and its cheaper than shooting blanks. We also have a load of fun and I’m surrounded by people that want to be there not necessarily have to be there.

I won't bash airsoft, it looks like a lot of fun, and has some application for the real world. I have worked with the Canadian version of MILES, WES, and one of the issues I had with it, and I think airsoft will have the same training flaw, is they both will treat concealment like cover. Lasers and BBs are stopped by stuff bullets go through. If you just want to play airsoft that does not matter, if you want it t translate to the real world it is something to keep in mind. It was frustrating not being able to engage tgts that were only concealed and not behind cover.

The second issue, I think would be range, I assume the range for the BBs is not anywhere near the range of real rounds. Again if you just want to play airsoft have at it, but if you want to transition to the real world, ensue that you have the right conception of the distance you can be effective engaged from.

Despite these limitations, I think Airsoft would still make a good training tool, plus your running around in the woods, building friendships and teamwork. What could be better.

You would be correct in saying that the airsoft distance is not adequate. I use to play out in the woods and have found the training value is very limited. It is frustrating that when you see someone and can’t engage them. That is why I started a business and airsoft field that is indoors. I cannot mention how many times I have trained with miles and have watched everyone turn in to John Rambo and shoot from the hip and do things that are very unrealistic. When you bring the idea of pain in to the equation people start to act a little more realistic in their risk taking.MILES:Pros: uses real guns, longer range, can tell you who shot who, cannot cheat (as easily)Cons: heavy, not pain reinforcement, disturbs gear layout (Harness), hard for civilians to get SIMS:Pros: pain reinforcement, marks target, different colors to identify who shoots who, uses most of your real gun, Cons: Jams easily, if using a optic it must be changed out with SIM upper very very expensive, hard to find place to shoot SIMSPAINTBALL: Pros: pain reinforcement, marks target, different colors to identify who shoots who, less expensive than SIMSCons: messy, not as accurate as all others, not as realistic, Still pricyAIRSOFT: Pro: Lest expensive of all the training tools, gas powered provides realism, some rifles are identical to real rifles, Pain reinforcement, great for practicing in garage, ability to make airsoft rifle identical to real rifle for cheaper than real rifleCons: short distance, no marking quality,

By no means do I think that Airsoft is the end all, be all of training tools. But I do think that this is one tool that everyone can afford. I use Airsoft as one of my staple training tools and it has allowed me to take all my skills to the next level.